Break Your Heart Open and Heal

Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do practice?

-George Carlin

From "Nothing Left Unsaid," by Carol Orsborn:

There came a time when a rabbi was invited to visit a synagogue of great repute, some distance away. The rabbi and his disciples traveled many days and nights, anticipating their arrival at the synagogue.

When at last the rabbi and his disciples reached the synagogue, he hesitated at the door, refusing to enter. His disciples asked him what was wrong.

"I sense only joy and praise," the rabbi explained.

"What could be wrong with this?" asked the disciples, for this seemed to them to provide the greatest encouragement to go inside.

When they pressed the question, the rabbi explained, "Words spoken without honesty and humility cannot rise to heaven. The people here want only to show off how good they look to God. We must travel on until we find a place where the people are aware of their inadequacy."

The sacred space where life summons us to attend someone for whom we care is such a place. There are times when we feel anxiety, doubt, and fear instead of certainty...the secret to living a full life is to become willing to embrace whatever comes our way. To be fully alive is to stand and embrace the broader range of human experience: bittersweet sadness, righteous anger, compassionate concern, even deep and honest despair. You must be willing to surrender the illusion that this is your show, and allow your heart to break open. It is through these cracks that healing enters and stirs your heart and soul to their fullest expression.